The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-12-30
THE WESTERN eRErNA GREEN.
Jenersocville, Ind, is Famous for the
Many owe Knots Tied There.


Many owe Knots Tied There.
From the Philadelphia Ne,cs.
Jacksonville is the Gretna Green of the
West, and there are probably more clipping
couples made happy at this place that at
any other on the American continent or in
the world. The celebrated Justice, Ephraim
kelgwin, alone has celebrated no less than
! 800 marriages in the last ten years, GER
tainly not despicable record The num-
Der is doubled by two other Justices who're
side here-Lee and Ware-the three
'Squires together having coupled not less
than $500 souls in marriage during the past
decade. The ministers of the city also are
frequently called upon, about three couples
per week asking them for assistance in get
| ting rid of single blessedneSs, another 800
being thus added to the sum total of eloping
marriages, making at least $500 weddings
during the ten years past, or at an average
OF 54O weddings per year. Now, as a mar
rlage license in Indiana costs 81 %, and the
| 'Squire's or minister's fee is seldom less
than 50, and often three times as much or
more, it will be seen that there is much
money in marrying--for Jacksonville.
The majority of the Victims of Hymeu
come from Kentucky, but Ohio, Indiana and
| sometimes Tennessee or Illinois add to the
contingent. They are not always bona-fiie
elopistS. so to speak, from reasons of econ
only, secrecy or prudence. Probably one
half belong TO this class. 1t stands to rea-
| son that it is cheaper to get up an alleged
runaway match, pay the railroad fare, 81 %
for license, 81 for the ceremony, which, by
| the way, is carefully graded according to
purse, and go home quietly, than to give
an elaborate wedding feast with all its m
comitants, which may run up into the hun
| dreds of dollars
| Thus it will be seen that candidates for
wedlock can do no better financially than
run away to Jacksonville and get married,
| it marry they must.
| That such a strange industry as this can
| not exist without some odd phases goes
without saying. So, for example, it has
created the matrimonial runner, shrewd,
discerning young man, generally, who knows
| the candidates by sight, just as reporter
knows good bit of news The NJ. R. is
opposed to violent exertion, and conse
| quently prefers to spend his time at the
| landing Of the ferry which connects tine
blissfui shore of JefferSonyille with Louis
vile.
When he sees a shyly happy couple come
up the river bank, or spies hired ba k
| with two passengers, he generally succeeds
in insinuating himself and tenders his SER
! vice. He procures a license, swears to the
age g the parties, or gets some idier to doit,
and lands the couple in the 'Squires Office.
who divides the fees with him. 1t may not
| be very remuneratlve nor useful occupa-
| ton, but it has the element of picturesque
ness and unconventionality.
There must have been at one time and an
other respectable amount OF hypothetical
| swearing done, in order to assure the Coun-
| ty Clerk as to the age of applicants for
| license, ana sometimes an Infatuated par
emit arrives here just too late to stop the
Il
| then SINNERS down, accepts the inevitable,
and fails to prosecute the bold, bad man
who presumed to know the age of daugh-
ter better than her parental progenitor
1t is not easy to stop an clipping marriage.
| People here are generally in sympathy with
| the smitten hearts, and ever. our police con-
| fess to somewhat of a tender ness. Nor can
elopists be- arrested and held just because
they have eloped- 1t is no crime. A prom
inent Kentuckian, whose daughter had been
| spirited away by an enterprising lover,
| found that out few days ago. He tele-
| graphed from Bardstown to arrest the cou-
| pie. the County Clerk was warned, and
| everything cooked and primed to blow up
the anticipated marriage, but lol the young
couple would not be held, and they quietly
slipped to New Albany and were married.
There is plenty Of romance in the bust
ness, and novelist could probably not do
the escapades of these lovers. They come
| at all hours of day and night, III all sorts of
| conveyances or on foot, and have all sorts
| of adventures.
Sometimes the surly Kentucky maiden
| goes to singing school or to church, delud-
| ing the vigiiant father into security, whilo
her swain has horses or buggy ready to
drive to the nearest railway station or
| straight through TO the marital Mecca
| Again. as in tue case of Nimrod Conn, OF
| Boston, KY, few days ago, the bride es
capcs at midnight, with all the accompani-
! ments of ladders, lantern and danger. In
some cases the fugitlves are hotly pursued,
| but rarely overtaken before the knot is
tied, when the Directing parents invariably
cool down and accept the situation, and the
| groom, after more vigorous but unavailing
| kicking, for no matter how easily the Indl-
ana nuptial knot is tied, it don't unite quite
! 50 easily.
One of the most exciting experiences,
probably, was that of Madison couple,
| telegraphed the NeUS at the time
| The clippers were accompanied by
the groom's stepfather and the
brides aunt. They escaped to Kentucky
in skiff, but, arriving on land, the bride
was taken ill and the whole party com
PEELED to seek shelter aud sympatny at
farm house, being delayed there several
days When at last they reached Jefferson
vile the stepfather and aunt persuaded the
groom and bride to obtain license, which
was duly transferred to the proper parties
| and the wedding celebrated BY Justice
Keigwin. This is only one of many tricks
resorted to to obtain the necessary legal pa
pers, and goes to snow the ingenuity of in
ventious where love is concerned Love
laughs at law or any other locksmitt Why,
have known youth and maiden 10 walk 80
miles to be married here, nor had they
penny for expenses or fees, and collection
had to be taken among the county officials